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Soyuz rocket on international mission

A Russian spacecraft that is to dock with the International Space Station has blasted off from Kazakhstan with a multi-national crew of three.

19 Oct 2003 03:06 GMT

International Space Station's survival depends on Soyuz flights

The Soyuz TMA-3 lifted off from Baikonur cosmodrome on Saturday for a 200-day mission with a Russian, an American and a Spaniard on board. It is due to dock with the 16-nation orbital platform on Monday.

"This is a very historic day. It again demonstrates the depth of commitment to this partnership," NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe said after the launch.

With US space shuttles still grounded after the Columbia disaster early this year, the International Space Station's survival depends on Russian spacecraft.